Pedestrian Day Use hours are from 6:00am-10:00pm.
Vehicle Day Use hours are from 7:00am - 8:00pm.
Pismo State Beach
Update (Dec. 8, 2020)
Regional Stay at Home Order
On December 3, California took an important step to address the alarming pace of COVID-19 case rates that are threatening to overwhelm the health care delivery system by implementing a Regional Stay at Home Order. The new order will be implemented regionally once there is less than 15 percent ICU capacity in the designated region. This action will help protect critical care for patients. While the order includes the closure of campground sites in impacted regions, the state also recognizes that mental health is physical health. As such, day use outdoor areas of park units currently open to the public will remain open. Members of the same household are encouraged to stay local and recreate responsibly in the outdoors. At Pismo State Beach, all campgrounds are temporarily closed.
Three-phased Reopening Plan
California State Parks announced a three-phased reopening plan for vehicular use at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) and Pismo State Beach (SB), starting Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Vehicular access to all state park units was closed in March to prevent visitation surges and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
In recent months, State Parks has worked with local and state officials on a phased and regionally driven approach to increase access across the State Park System where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. The phased-reopening plan for Ocean Dunes SVRA and Pismo SB is designed to support a safe and healthy environment for employees, visitors and natural resources such as the endangered Western snowy plover and California least tern. Though the first phase is expected to begin October 30, specific dates for phases two and three have yet to be determined.
For a summary of the three-phased reopening plan for Oceano Dunes SVRA and Pismo SB click here.
Drivers are advised that the dunes and topography changed during the closure of Oceano Dunes SVRA, creating unfamiliar terrain. All drivers are being asked to drive with care and provide shorebirds and pedestrians plenty of space as they enjoy the park. The speed limit on the beach is 15 miles per hour.
Visitation and physical distancing will be monitored at Oceano Dunes SVRA and Pismo SB and if unsafe conditions develop, access may be restricted again. The public is reminded to plan ahead, maintain the proper physical distance, avoid crowds and wear face coverings and limit the group to people from the immediate household. For additional OHV COVID-19 tips, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.
Updates on all aspects of the phased-reopening plan will be posted on the Oceano District’s Twitter and Facebook social media accounts.
State Parks understands that outdoor enthusiasts have questions and concerns about the safety measures the department has implemented for the phased reopening. It is important for us to keep you informed of our actions. As such, we have developed frequently asked questions (FAQs) – view here.
Regional Stay at Home Order
On December 3, California took an important step to address the alarming pace of COVID-19 case rates that are threatening to overwhelm the health care delivery system by implementing a Regional Stay at Home Order. The new order will be implemented regionally once there is less than 15 percent ICU capacity in the designated region. This action will help protect critical care for patients. While the order includes the closure of campground sites in impacted regions, the state also recognizes that mental health is physical health. As such, day use outdoor areas of park units currently open to the public will remain open. Members of the same household are encouraged to stay local and recreate responsibly in the outdoors. At Pismo State Beach, all campgrounds are temporarily closed.
Three-phased Reopening Plan
California State Parks announced a three-phased reopening plan for vehicular use at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) and Pismo State Beach (SB), starting Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Vehicular access to all state park units was closed in March to prevent visitation surges and help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
In recent months, State Parks has worked with local and state officials on a phased and regionally driven approach to increase access across the State Park System where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. The phased-reopening plan for Ocean Dunes SVRA and Pismo SB is designed to support a safe and healthy environment for employees, visitors and natural resources such as the endangered Western snowy plover and California least tern. Though the first phase is expected to begin October 30, specific dates for phases two and three have yet to be determined.
For a summary of the three-phased reopening plan for Oceano Dunes SVRA and Pismo SB click here.
Drivers are advised that the dunes and topography changed during the closure of Oceano Dunes SVRA, creating unfamiliar terrain. All drivers are being asked to drive with care and provide shorebirds and pedestrians plenty of space as they enjoy the park. The speed limit on the beach is 15 miles per hour.
Visitation and physical distancing will be monitored at Oceano Dunes SVRA and Pismo SB and if unsafe conditions develop, access may be restricted again. The public is reminded to plan ahead, maintain the proper physical distance, avoid crowds and wear face coverings and limit the group to people from the immediate household. For additional OHV COVID-19 tips, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.
Updates on all aspects of the phased-reopening plan will be posted on the Oceano District’s Twitter and Facebook social media accounts.
State Parks understands that outdoor enthusiasts have questions and concerns about the safety measures the department has implemented for the phased reopening. It is important for us to keep you informed of our actions. As such, we have developed frequently asked questions (FAQs) – view here.
Phone Number
(805) 473-7220
Max. Trailer Lengths
Trailer: 31 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: 36 Feet
Park Hours
Dogs Allowed?
Yes
Dogs not allowed in Pismo Dune Preserve.
Driving Directions to Pismo SB
The beach is located in the town of Oceano off Highway 1.Camping and Lodging
Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.
Upcoming Park Events
No events scheduled at this moment.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
Family Campsites
RV Sites w/Hookups
RV Dump Station
RV Access
Family Campsites
RV Sites w/Hookups
RV Dump Station
RV Access
TRAIL USE
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Family Programs
Geocaching
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing/Surfing
Family Programs
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Food Service
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Food Service
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Available for Review
State Parks has prepared a Draft Public Works Plan and associated Draft EIR for Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area for compliance with the California Coastal Act and recommendations for improvement in additional Park Management Programs and Plans. The Draft Plan (Volume 1), Existing Conditions (Volume 2), and Draft EIR (Volume 3) are available for review at www.oceanodunespwp.com/en/documents/draft-eir.
The Draft EIR is available for public review and comment for 60 days, beginning December 31, 2020. Comments are due on March 2, 2021, at 5 pm. However, if a California Coastal Commission hearing for these draft documents is scheduled after March 2, 2021, the comment period will be extended to the hearing date.
Please submit written comments to:
By Mail:
California State Parks
Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division
1725 23rd Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95816
By email: OceanoDunes.PWP.EIR@parks.ca.gov
Welcome to Pismo State Beach! Located along the beautiful Central Coast of California, Pismo State Beach has a pleasant year round climate making it ideal for outdoor recreation and exploring! Visitors at Pismo State Beach enjoy many diverse outdoor activites including: camping, surfing, swimming, fishing and bird watching. There are also walking trails along the coastal sand dune habitat and around the freshwater Oceano Lagoon. Be sure to stop by the Oceano Dunes District Vistor Center to learn about our free educational programs and don't miss the special opportunity to observe Western Monarch Butterflies in the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove (November-February)!
Day Use
Visitors wanting to access the beach by foot may park their vehicles in the lot located off of West Grand Avenue near Fin’s Bar & Grill Restaurant. A boardwalk to the beach and public restrooms are available for visitors.
Day use passes are $5.00 per vehicle entering the beach. Motor vehicles may access the beach at the end of West Grand Avenue located in Grover Beach. The speed limit on the beach is 15 MPH. It is strongly recommended that only those with four-wheel drive vehicles access the beach.
Campfires are allowed on the beach but must not be greater than three feet in diameter and two feet in height. Only wood and untreated wood products free of metal, petroleum products or other toxic substances shall be used. Fires must be fully extinguished with water and left exposed, never burried in sand.
Dogs are allowed on the beach and park trails but must be kept on a leash, not longer than six (6) feet, at all times. Dogs are not allowed at the Pismo Dune Preserve or at Oso Flaco Lake.
Camping
All camping reservations must be made online at Reserve California or by calling Reserve California at 1-800-444-7275 8:00am - 6:00pm Pacific Time (PT). Reservations are required during peak season and holiday weekends. Reservations may be made up to six (6) months in advance, but they must be made at least 48 hours prior to arrival. A maximum of two (2) licensed vehicles (including motorcycles, trailers and RVs) are allowed per campsite. Vehicles may be parked only in your assigned campsite. Check-out time is noon and check-in time is 2pm. Both campgrounds within Pismo State Beach provide conventional amenities such restrooms, pay operated hot-showers, picnic tables and a camp fire ring. Fire wood is also available for sale at the Camp Host Campsites or by inquiring at the kiosk.
If you are seeking information about the primitive beach camping, please visit the Oceano Dunes SVRA Website.
North Beach Campground features tent camping facilities and a campfire center. There are no hook-up sites available in this campground. Visitors can access the beach from the campground and enjoy the the views along Carpenter Creek. The Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove is also accessible from the campground. In the summer months, Jr. Ranger Programs and Campfire Programs are held at the campfire center. Click here to view a map of the North Beach Campground: North Beach Campground Map
Oceano Campground features both hook-up RV sites and tent camping sites. Visitors can access the beach from the campground, explore wildlife along a freshwater lagoon, and enjoy the Visitor Center. In the summer months, Jr. Ranger Programs and Campfire Programs are held at the campfire center. Click here to view a map of the North Beach Campground: Oceano Campground Map
Interpretive Education Programs
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person interpretive programming has been suspended until further notice. The Summer 2020 interpretive programs were hosted online in a digital format and are now available for streaming on the links listed below. For the 2020-2021 School Year, all field trips will be hosted digitally
Virtual Field Trips
Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) program provides FREE live interactive videoconference programs, also known as virtual field trips. K-12 students from California and around the world are connecting with live State Park Interpreters and learning academic content standards within the context of California’s dynamic state park system. Using platforms like Zoom, Skype and Google Meets, we will connect with your students for these live video conferencing programs. Student participation is encouraged as we design these programs to be very interactive! Teachers can learn more about these programs and register their class by visiting our School Programs Page or by visiting https://www.ports-ca.us/ports-programs/ports-on-demand/pismo-state-beach
Campfire Programs
Join State Park Interpreters around the virtual community campfire for fun and interactive presentations about local wildlife and cultural topics. All ages welcome. Please visit our district YouTube Channel to view our Campfire Program video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aaluoc7TtYw&list=PL3_0PQwwlzA21bO45auCmR3kZ_TbbbqD9
Junior Ranger Programs
Children ages 7 - 12 years old are invited to virtually join State Park Interpreters for fun online programs to learn about science, nature and history! Participants can earn digital Junior Ranger certificates! To view the programs, please visit our district YouTube Channel to see the Junior Ranger video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58pwLpBHIic&list=PL3_0PQwwlzA1dtH8egFtBQL47O6_-lEb1
Little Ranger Programs
Families with young children ages 2 - 6 years old are invited to virtually join State Park Interpreters for our Oceano Dunes District Little Ranger Programs! To view the programs, please visit our district YouTube Channel to see the Little Ranger video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3_0PQwwlzA1uDEoLkVbuqJFXyNJQwLjP
Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center
Located at 555 Pier Avenue at the entrance to the Oceano Campground, the newly remodeled Oceano Dunes District Visitor Center is a one stop place to learn about the park and local area. Friendly staff and volunteers will help answer your questions about the park and local area. This interpretive center will introduce you to the history of the area, teach you about local wildlife and give you fun ideas for adventuring in the park! Kids can pick up an interpretive activity booklet.
Become a Discovery Agent
Help Secret Agent Bill the Beaver on his mission to discover the Oceano Lagoon at Pismo State Beach. Download the Agents of Discovery App on your smartphone or tablet and select the Oceano Lagoon mission!
The App is FREE and does not require WiFi or cellular data to play once installed! Agents of Discovery is an augmented reality App that allows users to independently explore the park through playing interactive games and triva. At the park, users are able to search for challenges and answer questions about wildlife and the cultural history of the Northern Chumash Native Americans.
Fishing
Pismo Clams
Pismo Clams are bivalves, which means they have two siphons and a two halfed shell. These clams bury themselves a few inches below the wet sand using their digging foot. The intake valve draws seawater into the body of the clam to capture diatoms, algae and plankton! In 1947, Pismo Beach deemed itself the "Clam Capital of the World". The Pismo Clam and the Pacific Razor Clam made up most of the catch by clammers. The largest Pismo Clam recorded in California came from Pismo Beach and was 7.37 inches across and estimated to be 26 years old. An influx of clammers and sea otters (natural predators to the Pismo Clam) led to the depletion of the Pismo Clam population. Pismo clam populations fluctuate dramatically due to a variety of natural influences.
A fragile and valuable resource, Pismo clams may be taken under the following regulations:
- Clammers must possess a valid fishing license and an accurate (rigid) measuring device.
- Pismo clams must measure at least 4 1/2" in length to be possessed.
- Undersized Pismo clams must be immediately reburied in the area where dug.
- Bag limit is 10 Pismo clams.
- Hours of clamming are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
The Pacific Razor Clam can be taken at all times during the year, with a valid fishing licence. There is a limit of 20 clams per person.
Surf Fishing
Surf fishing is a popular activity along the shoreline here at Pismo Beach State Beach. A valid fishing licence is required. For information on licensing, species, size, and take limits, please visit California Fish and Wildlife at www.wildlife.ca.gov. The ocean can be dangerous and unpredictable. Never turn your back on the waves and be aware of your surrounding at all times while fishing. Sand bars are evershifting and strong ripcurrents are prevalent along this coastline.
Freshwater Fishing
The Oceano Lagoon is located behind the Oceano Dunes Visitor Center and the Oceano Campground. A valid fishing licence is required. For information on licensing, species, size, and take limits, please visit California Fish and Wildlife at www.wildlife.ca.gov. There is an ADA accesible fishing platform.
Park History
The dunes at Pismo State Beach and to the south in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dune Complex are considered the finest and most extensive along the California coast. Most of the sand that formed these dunes was carried down to the ocean by rivers and streams, deposited on the beach by ocean currents, and then shaped by the wind into the dunes seen today, a process that took millions of years.
The Chumash Native Americans have lived in this area for thousands of years and continue to do so today. Evidence of their historical presence can be seen in several locations in the dunes in the form of “middens,” which are piles of discarded shells that were left behind after being harvested for food. These middens are protected by state and federal law; please do not enter or disturb these areas.
In 1769, members of Gaspar de Portola’s inland Spanish expedition traveled through our coastal dunes, encountering not only the Chumash but an area full of native black bears and grizzly bears. While Portola’s group was traveling through Oso Flaco they tracked and killed the skinniest bear (un oso flaco) they had ever seen, giving the area its current name.
The Dunites were a primitive settlement of free thinkers, artists, writers, and mystics that lived in the dunes beginning in the 1930s. They predominantly lived in the area they named Moy Mel (Gaelic for “pastures of honey”). Many Dunites considered this area to have mystic vibrations. The last Dunite, Bert Schievink, died in 1974. The area today is still known by its given name and is a popular location in the park.
In 1934, California State Parks first aquired the land that is now know as the Oceano Campground. Over the following decades, more land was aquired and the Oceano Dunes District was formed. Today, the Oceano Dunes District includes Pismo State Beach and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Accessibility
There are ADA accessible restrooms at Grand Avenue and Pier Avenue beach access ramps. Sand wheel chairs are available at all park entrance stations free of charge, on a first come first serve basis. California State Parks supports equal access. Visitors who need assistance should contact the Oceano Dunes District Ranger Station at (805) 473-7220 or 711 TYY relay service prior to arrival.